Stabilizing mechanism for flying-machines.



B. BERLINER.

STABILIZING MECHANISM P01. FLYING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29, 1912.

1,1 19,567, Patented Dec. 1,1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

E BERLINER. STABILIZIQNG MECHANISM FOR FLYING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29, 1912.

Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES" PATENT m EMILE BEBLINE-It, or WASHINGTON, DISTRICT VQFICOILUMBIA.

- STABILIZING MECHANISM FOR FLYING-MACHINES.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EMILE BERLINER, a citizen of the United States, residing at ashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stabilizing Mechanism for F lying-Machines, of which the following is a description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawing and to the figures of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to improvements in flying machines, and particularly to a stabilizing device for aeroplanes and the li e.

The object of the invention is to provide an effective device for automatically keeping an aeroplane in equilibrium, and itconsists primarily in the use of stabilizmg propellers arranged on opposite sides or ends of an aeroplane, said propellers being actuated by a shaft controlled by a pendulous weight to cause said shaft to operate or not operate said propellers.

It further consists in the use of stabilizing propellers at opposite sides or ends of an aeroplane capable of being operated reversely and in unison, or reversely and alternately or in any way so as to compress the air in opposite directions, by a shaft controlled by a pendulous weight to cause said shaft to operate or not operate said pro- .pellers.

Again the invention consists in the use of stabilizing propellers at opposite sides or' ends of an aeroplane and connected to a I common shaft in such a way that they may be turned forward or backward by the action of a second shaft, which is controlled by a pendulous weight to cause said shaft to operate or not operate said propellers.

Finally, the invention consists in the matters hereinafter described andreferred to in the appended claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of an aeroplane (biplane) showing my invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the stabilizing mechanism; Fig.- 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the propellers operated from separate driven shafts instead of besents ina conventional manner the support- Specification of Letters Patent.

I Patented l ec. l, 1914..

Application filed January 29, 1912. Serial No. 674,167.

ing framework of a biplane, the operating mechanism, rudders, etc., not being necessary for an illustration of the present' invention.

As shown in Fig. 1, a cross shaft 2 extends from side to side of the aeroplane, and at opposite ends has bevel gears 2, meshing with bevel gears 4 for driving vertical propeller shafts 5, carrying horizontal propellers 6 arranged to rotate in opposite directions. By this arrangement, as the propellers rotate, they compress the air in opposite directions, thus when in operation giving respectively a lifting and depressing effeet. It will be obvious that the same result may be accomplished by rotating the propellers in thesame direction, but mak-.

normally out of engagement with the friction gears 10 on the shaft 2, but automatically brought into engagement with one or the other, as the aeroplane tilts one way or another.

The end of-the shaft 7 adjacent the friction gear is supported in a yoke 11, pivoted as shown in detail in Fig. 4, to a bracket 12. Vertical arms 13 pivoted at their upper ends to the yoke, support between them at their lower ends a pendulous weight 14, which when the aeroplane is on even keel holds the yoke in horizontal position, and the shaft 7 with its friction gear 9 out of operative engagement with the shaft 2; but when the aeroplane tilts, the pendulous weight in retaining its plumb position will swing the yoke and carry the gear 9 into engagement with one or the other of the gears 10, and thus motion will be transmitted from shaft7 t0 shaft 2, and the propellers operated tocompress the air in op- .posite directions, and restore the equilibrium ing the gear 10' and the other the gear 10", ing arranged on a common shaft, as in Fig.

the propellers, therefore, by this arrangement, under the action of the shaft 7 operating independently and alternately, as the aeroplane tilts to one side or the other. It will be obvious'that thef'pivoted shaft 7 may be continuously operated by connections to the motor shaft, or maybe under the control of a clutch manipulated by the operator, or maybe treadle-controlled, such details are not essential to my invention, the broad feature of which resides in the automatic throwing into and out of operation of a shaft which actuates stabilizing propellers, and the automatic engagement or disengagement of such shaft with the propellers being dependent on the efforts of a pendulous weight to remain plumb. Therefore, various modifications and changes may be made, Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letter's Patent, is

1. In an aeroplane, stabilizing propellers arranged upon opposite sides of the longitudinal center thereof, a shaft connecting said propellers so that said propellers compress the air in opposite directions when said shaft is rotated, and means for rotating said shaft in opposite directions, said means being controlled by a pendulous Weight.

2. In an aeroplane, stabilizing propellers arranged upon opposite sides of the longitudinal center thereof, a shaft connecting said propellers so that the propellersrompress the air in opposite directions when said shaft it rotated, a second shaft for rotating said first named shaft, devices whereby said first named shaft may be rotated in either direction from said second shaft,"and means for controlling said devices including a pendulous weight, whereby the direction of rotation ofthe first named shaft is controlled by the tilting of the aeroplane.

3. In an aeroplane, stabilizing propellers arranged upon opposite sides of the center thereof, devices for rotating said propellers, including a rotating shaft formed in sec tions and flexibly connected together, a mov- 'able bearing for one end of said shaft, a

pendulous weight connected to said movable bearing for moving the same upon the tilting of the aeroplane, and devices connected with said propellers and adapted to alternately engage said shaft.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signa ture in the presence of two Witnesses.

EMILE- BERLINER.

Witnesses:

A. M. PARKINS, GRACE P. BRnnn'roN. 

